CRRSA Act enacted Dec. 2020

BACKGROUND            INTENT            ELIGIBILITY            USAGE             FILING            PAYMENT           ​ RESOURCES            ​ ACRONYM GLOSSARY 
Background
On Dec. 27, 2020, the President signed into law the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSA Act) that provides $82 billion nationwide in a second Education Stabilization Fund to prevent, prepare for and respond to the coronavirus:
  • Second Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund of $54.3 billion. NYS’s allocation is $4 billion and CRRSA does not have to be allocated to non-public districts/schools.
  • Second Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund of
  • $4 billion for Governors to provide educational agencies with emergency assistance to address the impact of COVID-19. Of the $4.05 billion:
    • $2.75 billion is set aside for Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools grants.
    • NYS’s allocation is $323 million of which $250 million must be allocated to non-public districts.
This is the second round of funding for both ESSER and GEER. See our CARES Act webpage for information about the initial round.
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Intent
May be used for pre-award costs dating back to March 13, 2020, when the national emergency was declared. Same intent as CARES Act with K-12 dollars focused on:
  • Helping schools reopen
  • Helping students catch up on learning they have missed during the pandemic.
  • States would be required to spend a percentage on summer learning and after-school programs, and education technology.
  • A portion would be used for challenge grants focused on educational equity. Amendments added during the debate on the Senate floor would provide $800 million to support education and wraparound services for homeless children and would require districts to make public a plan for the safe return to in-person schooling.
  • About $7.2 billion would go toward the E-rate program that makes it easier to connect homes and libraries to the internet.
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Usage
Among other item, funding is available for:
  • Supporting school district efforts to improve preparedness (PA, lockdown, notification).
  • Purchasing the hardware and software needed to conduct remote and hybrid learning.
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Eligibility
All public school districts are eligible.
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Filing
As of Jan. 15, 2021:
​“NYSED is working to develop application forms and LEA specific allocations for the ESSER funds. When the application and LEA allocation amounts are final, NYSED will ask LEAs to submit an application for the ESSER funds using our online Application Business Portal.”
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Payment
Under the CRRSA Act, funds are “awarded” when the Governor awards a contract or subgrant, or otherwise reserves the funds at the State level consistent with State law and fiscal procedures.
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<  CARES Act (ESSER1 & GEER1)
Smart School Bond Act (SSBA) >
Note that New York State Education Dept. (NYSED) is still issuing guidelines for use of NYS's $7.9 billion allocated in the American Rescue Plan (ARP) passed by U.S. Congress in March 2021. Currently, available district funds must be spent by Sept. 30, 2024, although a deadline extension is possible. Sign up to be notified when significant content updates are posted.
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